On Buhari’s re-election bid

Sir: President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration the other day to seek re-election has understandably generated a wave of mixed reactions from Nigerians. The ascetic General, at a NEC meeting of the APC told a startled party faithful that he is going to take another shot at the presidency. Reports say pin-drop silence enveloped the arena following the declaration.

The torrential downpour that came down same day was attributed to the declaration by Buhari. According to those who circulated this tale, heaven, like most Nigerians, was angry with Buhari’s declaration.

Frankly, I don’t know when rain started falling in anger. Do the heavens not open when it wishes? When did rainfall become a sign that all is not well?

Buhari says it’s a response to the clamour by Nigerians for him to seek a second term. We’ve heard several clamours. But there have also been other contrary clamours.

Away from Buhari’s declaration and the fuss it has generated, there are some very pertinent issues that should preoccupy the minds of Nigerians other than whether somebody is running, walking or sitting.

While it is advisable not to say – never, other parties, especially the seemingly contrite and faintly repented PDP must get to work, cleanse their house, put it in order and put forward a young, fresh and untainted presidential candidate that will command mass support and followership if they really want to dislodge Buhari and the APC from the throne.

Instead of dissipating energy attacking Buhari every other day and APC for not loving Nigerians enough by coming out again with an ‘old man’, why not focus on your house and think of the right, perhaps, pan-Nigerian candidate that will have Nigerians defy party, tribe, and primordial leanings to vote for him?

PDP and others must think beyond just grabbing power. We are still groping in the dark alleys of epileptic, if not nonexistent power supply. Buying fuel is still a big thing here despite nature blessing us with black gold. Young Nigerians have found solace in betting centres for lack of jobs, some federal roads remain highways to the grave; we suffer brain drain as our best medical doctors jet off to foreign lands to practise their trade, leaving our eternally ill equipped hospitals to rot away.

Poor Nigerians make do with the hospitals described by many as mere referral centres while those who should fix them seek medical attention abroad when headache knocks.

Our education system is crying for much more attention than the pedestrian attention we give it. All these are pressing national malaises that should engage our time and not whether Buhari will run or not.

Why we have remained a sleeping giant on broken limbs should get us thinking and worried. It’s not about power and all its appurtenances. Nigerians are sick and tired of empty promises. Our disillusionment has reached its tipping point. The nation is on a cliff hanger. Politics of nepotism, favouritism and deception has ruined this blessed contraption. We’ve suffered for far too long in this nation owing to insincere leaders and saboteurs who loathe the progress of this country.

What special, unique thing that set a good template for the nation to fly did those calling for Buhari’s head do when the lever of power was theirs? Is it a Nigerian thing that one receives sense in excess when out of power? The idea here is not to defend Buhari; but will other parties, especially the leading opposition, PDP, present a better alternative or will they pander to such worn out sentiments of who can beat Buhari?

As the clock ticks towards the next polls, it is germane for the APC and Buhari to tell us, in clear terms, why the Daura man should be voted again as was the case in 2015 and why we should believe them.

On their part, the Peoples Democratic Party whose expedient apology the other day remains a matter of hot debate in political circles, pepper soup joints and beer parlours, in concert with other opposition forces, having known who will likely fly the ruling party’s flag, must devise ways of beating them at their game, get a vibrant, sound and youthful presidential candidate that Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion, will vote for en masse like it was with Buhari and APC in 2015.

We need a stainless technocrat not tied to the apron strings of our perpetual godfathers and political buccaneers to salvage this nation from its many troubles.